janradder

The inspiration for E. C. Segar's Popeye

Frank "Rocky" Fiegle

There was a man in Chester named Rocky Feigle, who had a reputation for being handy with his fists. Thugs thought he'd be a pushover because of his short stature, but Feigle held his own. He worked in George Gozney's bar, sweeping out and straightening up the bar. He usually sat in a chair just outside the establishment. One day a group of five teen-aged toughs decided to lure Feigle to the woods behind the bar with the intent of robbing him. They did so, but when they tried to jump him, Feigle took care of three of them in short order. The other two, anticipating a similar fate, ran away. Feigle returned to his chair outside the bar, lit his corncob pipe and relaxed. Feigle died in 1947 at age 79. It's been strongly rumored over the years that Segar sent Feigle checks in appreciation.

--from Ed Black's Cartoon Flashback